Display apparatus



March 17, 1936. J Q CONN 2,033,908

DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Jun e 25, 1955 INVENT OR Jggeph C. Conn /Q L zrs Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY APPARATUS Joseph 0. Conn, Boonton, NJ.

Application June 25,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in display apparatus of the type shown in my 00- pending application Serial No. 11,789 filed March 19, 1935.

It is an object of the invention toprovide improved means for retaining the background members on the back or base of the display apparatus.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a display apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View on a smaller scale of a portion of the means for retaining the background members on the back or baseboard of the apparatus.

The illustrative display apparatus comprises a frame which may include a channel-shaped member having a back or base portion I and longitudinally-extending flanges Z and transverse end pieces 3. Inner surfaces of the channel may be rendered light-absorbent or non-reflecting by a suitable coating of paint or the like.

As shown in Fig. 1, the information or data to be displayed is represented or indicated on or by markers 4, a common form of which is made of celluloid or other suitable material such as sheet metal. The markers may comprise top portions of any desired conformation and tabs or arms extending rearwardly therefrom engaged and held by the background members presently to be described.

The frame above-mentioned carries between its flanges 2 background members 5 which provide means for releasably retaining the markers in display condition and are of such character as to make the markers stand out distinctly and be readily visible by contrast with said back ground in all usual conditions of illumination. For such purpose, I employ a resilient material, preferably screen material having portions in convolute form anad presenting a reticulated surface effect such as netting, screen or the like of a mesh size and color depending on the intended use.

As shown in Fig. 2, each individual background member 5 is bent into substantially an inverted U shape. Each individual member 5 extends between end members 3 and parallel with side members 2. The several members 5 are in substantial contact with each other and they are adapted to receive between them the tabs extend- 1995, serial N... 28,262

which is hereby made for a more detailed description.

For retaining the background members 5 on the base I, a plurality (three in the illustrative embodiment) of plates 6 having upstanding arrow-like heads I and IA are secured in spaced relationship transversely the base I. The plates 6 may be made of suitable metal and welded or otherwise secured to the base i. The arrow-like heads I and 7A may be formed by a stamping operation and then bent upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noted that the heads 1 located at one side of the plate 6 are higher than the plates 1A located on the other edge of the plate 6 and that the heads 1 and 1A are in staggered relationship, 1. e., the heads 1 are located opposite openings between heads IA and the heads 1A are located opposite openings between heads 7, so that when a background member 5 is placed over a head 1 the barb-like projections 8 of the head 1 will engage both legs of the inverted U-shaped member 5 at one level of the wire mesh, While barb-like projections 9 of two adjacent heads TA will engage the legs of the member 5 at a lower level of the wire mesh. This arrangement prevents undue distortion of the strands of the wire mesh and securely retains the several background members in position on the baseboard I.

Because of the shape and relationship of the heads 1 and 7A, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, the wire mesh 5 may be readily forced down over the heads but cannot be raised due to the action of the barb-like projections 8 and 9 under which projections the longitudinal strands of the wire mesh lodge.

While the heads I and 1A in the illustrative While heads 1 and IA are preferably formed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with barb-like projections 8 and 9 to engage and hold the wire mesh of which the background members 5 are made, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to such a construction as other forms of screen-retaining members having one or more barb-like projections may be used without departing from the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. Display apparatus comprising a base member, marker-retaining means of resilient screen material, and means for securing the marker-retaining means to the baseboard comprising retaining-members extending from the base and having barb-like projections adapted to engage JOSEPH C. CONN. 

